Clinton labels ICE decision on international students ‘cruel’ and ‘unnecessary’

Hillary Clinton in a tweet on Tuesday called a decision by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to require international students to leave the U.S. or risk violating their visa status if their schools switch to online classes in the fall “cruel” and “unnecessary.”

“This move is cruel, unnecessary, and counterproductive to America’s long-term interests. A Trump administration special,” Clinton said.

This move is cruel, unnecessary, and counterproductive to America’s long-term interests. A Trump administration special. https://t.co/Be3jFF4urq

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2020

International students enrolled in in-person classes for the fall semester will be allowed to resume their education on-site and remain in the U.S., ICE announced on Monday. Students who have hybrid online/in-person classes will be required to verify their course work is not exclusively online.

According to Fox Business, at least 11 major universities have announced coursework will remain entirely online for the fall semester, including Harvard, UC Berkley, UCLA and several others.

Some universities, such as Williams College, Stanford University and Boston University, have said they will resume hybridized courses in the fall.

Experts, however, warn of a potential second wave of coronavirus cases in the fall that could lead to unprecedented closures if some universities become hot spots for COVID-19.

“I would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 [cases] a day if this does not turn around and so I am very concerned,” said Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading epidemiologist, announced last week in reference to recent coronavirus outbreaks in Texas, Arizona, Florida and California.

Clinton in a subsequent tweet on Tuesday encouraged those who disagree with the new ICE policy to donate to organizations like the National Immigration Law Center, Immigrant Defense Project and United We Dream to push back against the agency’s plan.